Cardiotocography (CTG)

Cardiotocography (CTG) is a monitoring technique that tracks the baby’s heartbeat and the mother’s uterine contractions, usually during the later stages of pregnancy. Using an electronic fetal monitor, Cardiotocography (CTG) helps detect signs of fetal distress and reduced oxygen levels. It is widely used during labor to ensure safe delivery. International patients can access cardiotocography (CTG) monitoring in India, Turkey, Thailand, Dubai, and other leading medical destinations at advanced maternity hospitals supported by EdhaCare.

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How Cardiotocography Helps Assess Fetal Heart Rate

The visual representation of uterine contractions and FHR is called cardiotocography. Cardiotocographic monitoring is thought to be crucial, yet there is a lot of difference in practice and the suggested amount of time for monitoring. It may be impossible to diagnose premature labor and placental abruption without continuing continuous monitoring for a minimum of six hours, and maybe up to twenty-four hours, as needed. Cardiotocography (CTG) is a commonly utilized modality in labor and delivery for the detection of fetal hypoxia. It is possible to visually assess the fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern by characterizing its baseline, variability, and cyclical variations. Fetal heart rate rises when there is a decrease in baseline variation in fetal hypoxia.

Cardiotocography (CTG) – Estimated Cost

The cost of a CTG test can vary depending on the healthcare provider, hospital, and geographic location. Below are approximate estimated costs for Cardiotocography (CTG) in India, Turkey, Thailand, and Dubai:

Country Approximate Cost
India USD 50 – 150 per session
Turkey USD 70 – 200 per session
Thailand USD 80 – 250 per session
Dubai USD 100 – 300 per session

Note: These costs are approximate and may vary depending on the hospital, medical team, and any additional tests required. For an accurate cost of cardiotocography in India and personalized guidance, please contact EdhaCare.

Best Hospitals in India for Cardiotocography (CTG)

EdhaCare helps patients find the best hospitals in India for cardiotocography . We connect you with top hospitals for CTG in India offering advanced fetal monitoring technology and expert maternity care.

Hospital Name Location
Fortis Hospital - Shalimar Bagh New Delhi
Artemis Hospital Gurgaon
Apollo Hospital Navi Mumbai
Manipal Hospital - Kharadi Pune
CK Birla Hospital Jaipur

Expert Doctors in India for Cardiotocography (CTG)

Through EdhaCare, connect with the best doctors in India for cardiotocography. These top doctors for CTG in India provide accurate fetal assessment and personalized care.

Doctor Name Hospital Name Location
Dr. Shakti Bhan Khanna Apollo Delhi
Dr. Savitri Subramanyam Vijaya Chennai
Dr. Jaya M Bhat Fortis Bengaluru
Dr. Anita Kant Asian Faridabad
Dr. Girish Sabnis Narayana Mumbai

Cardiotocography Uses:

Cardiotocography (CTG) is a crucial tool in obstetrics for tracking the health of the fetus. This is particularly done to:  

  • Monitor the Fetal Heart Rate: The CTG continuously records the fetal heart rate, yielding vital clues as to fetal status.  
  • Monitor Uterine Contractions: It can also record and assess uterine contractions from the mother's perspective, giving health-care personnel the ability to assess the progress of labor and the response of the fetus to contractions.  
  • Determine Fetal Well-being: By analyzing patterns of fetal heart-rate changes concerning uterine contractions, health personnel can ascertain the signs of fetal distress, as in the case of hypoxia. 
  • Pregnancy and Labor: Fetal well-being is monitored by CTG before and during the labor process, such evaluation being a predictor of the baby's health state. 

Cardiotocography for Pregnancy

  • Cardiotocography (CTG) is a medical test used during pregnancy to monitor the baby's heart rate and the mother's contractions. It helps ensure the baby's well-being and can detect any problems early.
  • During the test, two sensors are placed on the mother’s belly. One sensor records the baby’s heartbeat, while the other tracks uterine contractions. The test usually takes about 20 to 40 minutes and is painless.
  • CTG is especially important in the later stages of pregnancy or if there are concerns about the baby’s health. It helps doctors understand how well the baby is coping with the stress of contractions and labor.
  • If the heart rate shows signs of distress, doctors can take action to ensure the baby’s safety. Overall, CTG is a valuable tool that provides important information about the health of both the mother and the baby during pregnancy.

Components of Cardiotocography

  • Cardiotocography (CTG) is a fetal heart rate (FHR) monitor consisting of a transducer placed on the mother’s abdomen.
  • Baseline FHR: Average fetal heart rate in the neighboring 10 minutes without any accelerations and decelerations: 110-160 bpm normal; < 110 bpm bradycardia; > 160 bpm tachycardia..
  • FHR Variability: Fluctuations of the baseline FHR give us an indication of the integrity of the fetal autonomic nervous system: absent (<0 bpm), minimal (≤5 bpm), moderate (6-25 bpm: reassuring), and marked (>25 bpm).
  • Accelerations: This refers to an increase in FHR of 15 bpm lasting for 15 seconds, considered to be the best indicator of fetal well-being. 
  • Decelerations: Decreases in FHR amplitude are called early decelerations, indicative of head compression; variable decelerations correspond to cord compression; late decelerations indicate uteroplacental insufficiency.
  • Uterine contractions: The hourly frequency, as well as contraction duration and intensity were recorded.
  • Cardiotocographic interpretations call for a reassurance component, suspicious symptomatology, or pathological perforations based on the amplitude of variability, presence of accelerations, and absence of concerning deceleration.

Advantages of Cardiotocography (CTG)

CTG enjoys numerous advantages in obstetric care and the monitoring of fetal well-being. Here is a summary of some of the advantages:

  • Non-invasive: It is non-invasive, safe for both mother and fetus, and requires no surgical incisions.
  • Continuous CTG monitors: Monitoring fetal heart rate and contractions to allow immediate detection of deviations from normal well-being.
  • Detection of Fetal Distress: Early Signals of distress, such as hypoxia, are detected by analyzing the fetal heart rate, and CTG allows an intervention to be done in a timely way to avert complications.
  • Assessment of fetal well-being during labor: CTG assesses the fetal well-being in high-risk pregnancies and during complications of labor.
  • Aids Clinical Decision Making: The information obtained by CTG acts indeed as a guide to the healthcare decision-making procedures during pregnancy and labor toward intervention options. 
  • Wide Availability and Access: CTG machines are common in hospitals and maternity units, and thus the monitoring benefit is largely available for many pregnant women. 
  • Records: The CTG provides a valid written record for future reference and legal purposes.
  • Helpful in high-risk pregnancies: CTG monitoring is essential for high-risk pregnancy management.

Cardiotocography (CTG) Limitations

Though CTG has its benefits, there are limitations to this method:

  • High false-positive rates resulting in unnecessary interventions.
  • Subjectivity leading to interpretation inconsistencies.
  • Normal CTG does not guarantee a healthy baby as it has low predictability.
  • Increased maternal anxiety because of continuous monitoring.
  • Restricted maternal movement, though the latest systems minimize this.
  • Technical problems, such as maternal obesity, affect CTG performance.
  • Not very effective in identifying all forms of fetal distress.

CTG is only one component of monitoring fetal well-being and should always be interpreted in conjunction with other clinical information.

Cardiotocography (CTG) Treatment Procedure

CTG monitoring is widely used to assess fetal well-being by identifying babies at risk of hypoxia (lack of oxygen). 

  • Preparation: The healthcare provider explains the procedure to the expectant mother and ensures her comfort during the test. The woman is positioned comfortably on her back or side, depending on gestational age and individual comfort.
  • Application of Transducers: Two transducers are placed on the woman's abdomen. The first transducer, the ultrasound transducer, is positioned over the area where the fetal heart rate is best heard. The second transducer, the toco transducer, is placed over the fundus of the uterus to measure uterine contractions.
  • Monitoring: The CTG machine records the fetal heart rate and uterine contractions continuously for a specific duration, usually 20-30 minutes. The machine produces a graph (trace) that shows the changes in fetal heart rate and uterine contractions over time.
  • Interpretation: The CTG trace is analyzed by the healthcare provider to assess fetal well-being. They examine various parameters, including baseline fetal heart rate, variability, accelerations, decelerations, and the relationship between fetal heart rate and contractions.
  • Assessment of Variability and Patterns: Variability refers to the normal fluctuations in the fetal heart rate, which indicates a healthy nervous system. Patterns, such as accelerations (temporary increases in heart rate) and decelerations (temporary decreases in heart rate), are also evaluated for normalcy.
  • Non-Reactive Traces: If the CTG trace shows no significant variability or abnormal patterns, it is considered non-reactive. Further assessment or additional tests may be necessary to evaluate fetal well-being more closely.
  • Documentation and Communication: The findings of the CTG monitoring are documented in the woman's medical records, and the results are communicated to the woman and her healthcare team. Further actions, such as additional testing, changes in management, or further monitoring, may be recommended based on the CTG findings.

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